CWE Grain Silo Lighting Project

Ted Wight · PostJan 06, 2011#12011-01-06T02:40+00:00

Over the Summer I visited Quebec City. They were celebrating their 400th anniversary and the City commissioned several special projects. One was illuminating their grain silos on the waterfront. The grain silos had video installations over the summer and in the off season have images shown on it. Very exciting and exactly what St. Louis needs to show that we are a forward-thinking/dynamic city. We are going to be celebrating our 250th anniversary in 2014. I am spearheading a project to do the same with our grain silos along highway 40/64 in the CWE near Sarah. Another option are the silos in East St. Louis opposite the Arch. I am in the fact-gathering stages checking with all of the interested parties to make sure it is feasible. The next stage will be raising the funding for the project.

I need a name for the project. Please send me ideas.

Check out my St. Louis Style blog for images from Quebec City and our own silos.

http://www.tedwight.com/st_louis_real_e ... r-project/

Ted Wight
Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty
314-607-5555
tedwight@aol.com

www.stlouisstyleblog.com

Alex Ihnen · PostJan 06, 2011#22011-01-06T03:29+00:00

YES! Names, names... I got nothing...

The silos are still functional and I think beautiful in their own way. It's not just about history, not exactly looking into the future...

I like "St. Louis Now". I mean we are who we are, grain silos and all and I love it.

newstl2020 · PostJan 06, 2011#32011-01-06T04:20+00:00

^What a fantastic idea!

I don't have anything for you on the name front, but please keep us posted when it comes to the raising funds stage. Hopefully there is a way to work out a web based donation system. Any preliminary ideas on what something like this would cost? Is it monetarily viable for the long haul? Are you looking to draw advertising revenue to help support the funding?

Sorry for all that, but it is a very interesting idea!

framer · PostJan 06, 2011#42011-01-06T06:07+00:00

Cool idea. Be sure to contact the Gateway Foundation. They've funded several area lighting projects.

http://www.gateway-foundation.org/

midcoaststl · PostJan 06, 2011#52011-01-06T17:45+00:00

That is an awesome idea! I vote for the riverfront as well!

gary kreie · PostJan 06, 2011#62011-01-06T18:30+00:00

Great idea. I would stay away from stacked six-packs of Budweiser.

Some of us were hoping the Arch competitors might propose projections or paintings on the Cargill grain elevators across from the Arch. Or use them as part of a laser light show.

http://urbanstl.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... 54#p174854

Ted Wight · PostJan 06, 2011#72011-01-06T21:10+00:00

I have approached the Gateway Foundation. Next week I am going to have lunch with Christy Fox. Their funds are targeted just on City Garden for right now, though she is going to give me some advice and direction.

This project could cost in excess of $700,000 if done right.

I am going to try to corner the Mayor tonight at a fundraiser to talk about the project.

I have already connected with Alderman Joe Roddy and he is supportive.

tge-atw · PostJan 06, 2011#82011-01-06T21:59+00:00

I like the ones in the cwe. Considering the background of the city's new cultural resource director,very interested in industrial architecture, I hope they will be protected even if they cease to be active. Good luck.

Mark Groth · PostJan 06, 2011#92011-01-06T22:12+00:00

This is a fantastic idea. You know, with 2 of the premier agricultural biotech firms in the region (Monsanto in west county) and Solae in the Central West End (just down the street from the silo) maybe you could look for support there. I love the idea of more agriculture in urban areas (see Detroit) and images of veggies, wheat, corn, beans, canola, cotton, whatever would look pretty cool right in the middle of the city. Again, awesome idea.

stlien · PostJan 07, 2011#102011-01-07T06:31+00:00

WOW. This will be amazing. Names huh? "mur éclairé" which is (according to google translate) "lighted wall" in French will be a great fit. Also it ties well into our citys french heritage.

RobbyD · PostJan 07, 2011#112011-01-07T06:51+00:00

Now that I've seen the pic, I like the idea. Wasn't so sure at first TBH.

I would think doing it by the river would get more exposure...Though I'm not sure of the exact locations (currently been outta town for a bit)..

How about "St. Louis Lit" or "St. Louis Lit Up" for names? Was also thinking of "Silo-ette" but that'd be backlighting the structures...

wabash · PostJan 07, 2011#122011-01-07T16:15+00:00

RobbyD wrote:How about "St. Louis Lit" or "St. Louis Lit Up" for names?

Why not take it one step further? "St. Louis Gets Lit" or "St. Louis Loves Getting Lit"

Jokes aside, this is a fantastic idea. This could be a great contribution to the continuing development and redevelopment of the eastern stretch of Forest Park Parkway. The Cargill silos on the East Side might be a bit harder since they are already painted with the Cargill logo and therefore offer less of a blank slate.

RobbyD · PostJan 09, 2011#132011-01-09T18:05+00:00

Wabash wrote:
RobbyD wrote:How about "St. Louis Lit" or "St. Louis Lit Up" for names?
Why not take it one step further? "St. Louis Gets Lit" or "St. Louis Loves Getting Lit"

LOL...What I was going for...just thought the double entendre thing would get the point across and still be viable...

This really is a neat idea if someone has the money to spend...it's a project that all St. Louisans could enjoy free of charge...

gary kreie · PostJan 09, 2011#142011-01-09T20:58+00:00

Here are some other photos of projections onto the Bunge grain elevator in Quebec City.

"The Image Mill, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Québec City...is the biggest outdoor architectural projection ever made in the world...using the huge surface of the Bunge grain elevators as a giant screen. (Wikipedia)"

RobbyD · PostJan 10, 2011#152011-01-10T06:25+00:00

^Now that is kewl...

And couldn't advertising be used in the mix to at least help pay for upkeep? Would be a handsome way to get a product or service out there...

chris_on_kingsbury · PostJan 10, 2011#162011-01-10T20:17+00:00

Build the new Metrolink station beside the grain elevator. It's easy to see the elevator from Lindell or from Fipsy.

Ted Wight · PostJan 11, 2011#172011-01-11T14:17+00:00

I did hear a rumor that a new Metrolink station is being considered for the area around the grain silos to serve the Cortex biotech complex.

innov8ion · PostJan 11, 2011#182011-01-11T14:27+00:00

RobbyD wrote:^Now that is kewl...

And couldn't advertising be used in the mix to at least help pay for upkeep? Would be a handsome way to get a product or service out there...

Ugh, no thanks...

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk

RobbyD · PostJan 11, 2011#192011-01-11T14:59+00:00

innov8ion wrote:
RobbyD wrote:^Now that is kewl...

And couldn't advertising be used in the mix to at least help pay for upkeep? Would be a handsome way to get a product or service out there...
Ugh, no thanks...

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk

Does this mean you'll be writing some checks?

Alex Ihnen · PostJan 11, 2011#202011-01-11T15:30+00:00

Ted Wight wrote:I did hear a rumor that a new Metrolink station is being considered for the area around the grain silos to serve the Cortex biotech complex.

Sarah Ave, next to the silos has been identified as a preferred future MetroLink stop, but only if and when a couple more Solae's or Cortex 1 buildings are built in the vicinity. I'm guessing it will be a few years.

innov8ion · PostJan 11, 2011#212011-01-11T16:04+00:00

RobbyD wrote:
innov8ion wrote:
RobbyD wrote:^Now that is kewl...

And couldn't advertising be used in the mix to at least help pay for upkeep? Would be a handsome way to get a product or service out there...
Ugh, no thanks...

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk
Does this mean you'll be writing some checks?

I know this is America but not all art has to be commercialized.

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk

RobbyD · PostJan 11, 2011#222011-01-11T16:09+00:00

innov8ion wrote:
RobbyD wrote:
innov8ion wrote: Ugh, no thanks...

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk
Does this mean you'll be writing some checks?
I know this is America but not all art has to be commercialized.

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk

True...

gary kreie · PostJan 14, 2011#232011-01-14T18:42+00:00

How about adding an ice climing feature to the grain elevator while we are at it. Looks like they painted a grain elevator and added climbing knobs. This is from Oklahoma City.

In Oklahoma City, ice climbing is ‘the coolest thing’
Climbers create artificial frozen waterfall outside climbing gym in downtown Oklahoma City

http://newsok.com/ice-climbing-is-the-c ... le/3532264

urbz · PostJan 20, 2011#242011-01-20T02:43+00:00

Alex Ihnen wrote:Sarah Ave, next to the silos has been identified as a preferred future MetroLink stop, but only if and when a couple more Solae's or Cortex 1 buildings are built in the vicinity. I'm guessing it will be a few years.

Don't count on the St. Louis Metallizing property being razed any time soon. Did they have any takers east of Boyle during the first round of inquiries?

This silo can be seen from so many points, my favorite being from the Chouteau viaduct. Show some movies on it and I wouldn't need a TV in my upstairs bedroom!

Alex Ihnen · PostJan 20, 2011#252011-01-20T04:32+00:00

Nothing has to be razed at all, there's plenty of room for a MetroLink platform.